EUGENE, Ore – The NCU softball team got into the win column this weekend, splitting a four-game series with Northwest University. The Beacons opened the conference schedule with a 2-1 mark to jump into a tie for second place in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
 
SATURDAY GAME ONE: Northwest Christian 7, Northwest 3
 
The Beacons ended a six-game losing streak on Friday, taking the opener from the Eagles, 7-3. Katie Walker went the distance for NCU to grab the victory, striking out seven batters over seven innings.
 
Ereanna Higbee broke out with the bat, hitting 3-for-4 with four RBI. Jessica Garner was 4-for-4 and scored a pair of runs. The sophomore also had three of NCU's seven stolen bases, tying a single-game record for an individual.
 
SATURDAY GAME TWO: Northwest 7, Northwest Christian 6
 
The Beacons were one out away from a 6-4 victory when back-to-back errors allowed NU to claim the walkoff victory. Walker took the loss for NCU despite not allowing an earned run in 1.2 innings of relief work.
 
The negative finish marred a strong game that included NCU's first long balls of the season as both Paige Griffith and Avery Daniels (pictured) each went deep. Daniels was 2-for-4 in the game with three RBI. Garner added her fourth stolen base of the day and Madi Novelli collected a pair of steals.
 
SUNDAY GAME ONE: Northwest Christian 8, Northwest 7
 
The Beacons put together ten hits in the first Sunday contest including two apiece from Caitlyn Messman, Daniels, and starting pitcher Alyssa Gayle. Gayle, Daniels and Higbee each collected a pair of RBI.
 
Walker again picked up the decision, grabbing her second victory of the year as she threw four innings of relief, allowing just one earned run while striking out a pair.
 
SUNDAY GAME TWO: Northwest 8, Northwest Christian 4
 
The new CCC scheduling format provides a fourth non-conference game each weekend and this time the non-counter went to Northwest. The Eagles jumped out to an 8-0 lead after four innings and looked to close out the run-rule victory but the Beacons weren't having it, posting four runs in the fifth. Daniels provided the most damage with a bases-clearing three-run double, giving her a total of nine RBI in the four-game series.
 
Madison Jones took the loss for the Beacons, allowing four earned runs in the second inning. Walker once again provided solid innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one earned run over the final 3.1 innings.
 
 
NCU (2-8, 2-1 CCC) will be back in action on Friday when they are scheduled to play host to Eastern Oregon University at 2:00 pm.